Abuse and neglect
Find out about your right to be protected from abuse
when using care homes or care services and how to stop
abuse.
About abuse
Despite what you might read in the media, available evidence
suggests that abuse and neglect of people using social care
services is not widespread. However, it can happen, and it needs to
be stamped out.
Abuse and neglect of people receiving social care services is a
criminal offence.
People can and do go to prison for it. It may also be a criminal
offence not to report abuse and neglect of someone if you know that
it is taking place.
Forms of abuse
Abuse can take many forms – it can be spoken abuse, physical
abuse or financial abuse such as using someone’s credit card or
chequebook to steal their money.
People can also suffer abuse and discrimination because of their
disability, religion, colour, cultural identity or sexuality.
Neglecting people who cannot look after themselves is also
extremely serious. It can be as straightforward as giving someone a
plate of food but not giving them a knife and fork to eat it with,
to leaving them lying in bed for so long that they get serious bed
sores.
What to do about abuse
If you or anyone you know is being abused or neglected, you must
report it to your local council, the police or us.
If we find out about allegations of abuse, we work closely with
social care services and the police to help investigate the
matter.
Many people being abused feel afraid to speak out, and fear that
their abuser will take it out on them.
We, your local council and the police all work very discreetly
in these cases. Our first priority is always to protect
people from any further harm.
Don’t be afraid to make a stand – contact us,
or tell a relative or friend and let them call us.